Former Presidents Kenyatta, Masisi, and Zewde lead high-level delegation; Samba-Panza and Obasanjo absent
A delegation from the African Union’s Panel of Facilitators arrived in Goma on Monday for high-level talks with the leadership of the AFC/M23 armed movement, focusing on peace efforts and the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The delegation, which received military honors from the armed movement upon arrival, includes former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde.
Two panel members were notably absent. Catherine Samba-Panza, the former president of the Central African Republic, did not travel for health reasons, while former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chairs the panel, was reportedly held up by an urgent mission related to tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Context of the Visit
The Goma meeting comes as the peace process between Kinshasa and Kigali, established under the Washington agreement, is set to enter a new phase this month. During discussions held on August 12-13 in Geneva, the two countries agreed to organize a trilateral planning conference to review the modalities for implementing their security commitments.
That conference is expected to update the operational order governing the implementation of these commitments, particularly concerning the neutralization of the FDLR, the disengagement of forces, and the lifting of Rwanda’s so-called defensive measures.
A Panel Seeking Relevance
The Panel of Facilitators was established in March 2025 under the AU-led mediation framework, chaired by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé. The panel includes Obasanjo as chair, Zewde as deputy chair, alongside Kenyatta, Masisi, and Samba-Panza.
However, the panel has faced criticism for remaining largely in the background as the Washington and Doha peace processes dominated diplomatic efforts. According to Africa Intelligence, the panel continues to benefit from European Union support, with material assistance expected soon.
The delegation’s tour was initially announced for mid-October, with plans to visit Kinshasa, Kigali, and Goma to meet with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and AFC/M23 leaders.
Escalating Violence on the Ground
The diplomatic mission comes amid a deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC. Since mid-September, violent clashes have intensified between the M23, supported by the Rwandan Defence Forces, and the Congolese armed forces supported by Wazalendo groups.
The UN Human Rights Office documented approximately 4,400 human rights violations and abuses in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces between January and September 2026, affecting some 9,500 victims. More than 6.1 million people are internally displaced across the country.
The UN has called on the Rwandan government to withdraw its troops from the DRC and end its support to AFC/M23, while urging that ongoing peace processes be anchored in human rights.
Divergent Mediation Tracks
The AU-led panel operates alongside other mediation efforts, including the Washington process—a US-brokered agreement between the DRC and Rwanda signed in 2025—and the Qatari-led Doha process between the Congolese government and AFC/M23.
A high-level meeting in January 2026 endorsed a revised mediation framework and created an Independent Joint Secretariat to support the AU Panel of Facilitators, while urging both sides in the Doha process to swiftly resume talks and conclude negotiations on the remaining protocols of the 2025 peace framework.
The Goma visit represents a critical opportunity for the AU panel to demonstrate its relevance and contribute to a unified African approach to resolving one of the continent’s most protracted conflicts.
